Sanford questions legislative power in SC

Governor Mark Sanford says that his federal lawsuit against the state is quote” not about the vetoes, and it?s not about the stimulus. He says there is a greater issue over balance of power.

“Do you now want to have legislative bodies, in essence, be given the power to undo a federal law?,” said Sanford. “I think that’s a pretty big question because it goes back to this heart turning on its head 200 years legislative tradition and the ways that things are done.”

The Governor says part of the problem is what he calls “the unusual structure that we deal with in South Carolina.”

“You know we’re the only state in the union with a Budget and Control Board that handles the administrative functions that are handled by the other 49 governors in the United States of America. We’re the only state that actually has the Public Utility Regulatory Agency elected by the legislative body. We’re the only state that actually has the Work Force Agency elected by the
legislative body. We’re one of only three states where a majority of the members of the state university boards are elected by the legislative body. We’re one of only two states where in judges are elected by the legislative body. We’re one of only two states where the Supreme Court is elected by the legislative body.”

The governors opponents in the state legislature, late last evening were still trying to sort out how to respond to the Governor’s suit, which they expected to be filed in state court.